RANDOLPH – Braintree had the momentum, the pictures on web benefit, and simply forgot one factor.
No.14 Reading upended the No. 11 Wamps, 1-0, as junior goaltender Chris Hanifan posted his second shutout of the Division 1 event with 25 saves for the Rockets at a jam-packed Zapustas Ice Arena. Braintree (14-7-2) held a 25-15 shot benefit ultimately however couldn’t discover the again of the online because the Rockets superior to the Final Four.
Reading (14-7-1) will face Xaverian for the fitting to advance to the state finals.
The lone objective got here within the opening minutes of the third interval as Matty Fichera took a beautiful cross ice move from Mark Boyle at 1:30 after two scoreless intervals of hockey.
The faceoff was the second of the interval within the Rockets’ finish and after Fichera fumbled the faceoff clear, he discovered Laz Giardina and the primary line for head coach Mark Doherty was off to the races. Giardina fed Boyle racing within the impartial zone as Fichera stuffed within the left slot.
Fichera took the cross-ice move as he slid on his bottom for the game-winner to ship the rowdy Rockets devoted right into a frenzy.
“We made a great rush far side to Boyle, Laz was crashing net and I was wide, right to me, beautiful pass by Boyle,” stated Fichera. “Awesome being the 14th seed and being in the top four right now.”
Braintree misplaced 18 gamers from its Elite Eight roster final season when it misplaced 3-2 to eventual 2021-22 state champion St. John’s Prep. Head coach David Fasano wasn’t thrilled with the loss for his Bay State League champions for the second yr in a row within the remaining eight, however put issues in perspective.
“Not too many people thought we were going to be back (to the Elite Eight) in January when we were 4-3-1. So, I give kudos to our seniors, our leaders, our captains, and our assistant captains,” stated Fasano. “We made some personnel changes, lost our starting goalie the first week of the season, so it’s been a successful season.”
Braintree defeated the Rockets 4-2 again in February however after being pulled in a sport down in Falmouth together with the loss in Canton, Hanifan has righted the Rockets’ ship simply in time with excellent play in web for the state event run and Reading now has an opportunity at a D1 state finals look.
“Things weren’t going great, things kind of culminated in Falmouth, so after that he’s gotten some good guidance. Quite frankly – he’s worked himself out of it with hard work, competing, because he is a good goalie,” stated Doherty, who’s in his 14th season with the Rockets. “We persevered, we do have a lot of seniors, and it does help when you go to difficult environments.”
In reference to the excellent protection of the Rockets, who’ve solely allowed one objective in three state event video games, Doherty appears like this workforce is able to roll into the Final Four.
“Again, we have a lot of seniors back there, but I’d like them to play even better though,” joked Doherty. “They … are strong, they can move people, and they generally transition pucks pretty good, So, combined with Hanifan, we are in pretty good shape.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com